How is Firebase Analytics User Id generated?

[Erling M]

I'd like to understand how the Firebase Analytics is generated but I haven't been able to conclude it using the public documenation. Does anyone here know?

- Erling

PS.  I know it can be set manually using setUserId. DS.

[Steve Ganem]

FIrebase Analytics generates a random GUID and designates it as the App Instance ID.  As the name suggests, this identifies a unique instance of the application on a device, so that if the app is uninstalled and re-installed, it will have a distinct App Instance ID.

Separately, as you mentioned, developers may supply their own User ID which has different semantics.

[Erling M]

Thanks Steve, so this is then totally random with no relationship to Android Id or the Advertisement Id then? Please confirm. 

/Erling

[Steve Ganem]

Yes, that is correct.  Note, however, that the Advertising Id is also captured and optionally exported to a linked BigQuery project (along with the app instance ID and the user ID, if available).

On Aug 15, 2016 7:51 AM, "Erling M" <erling.martensson@sonymobile.com> wrote:

Thanks Steve, so this is then totally random with no relationship to Android Id or the Advertisement Id then? Please confirm. 

/Erling

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-Steve

[Erling M]

Ok, so in case I would want to avoid collecting the Advertising Id how would I do that? Please explain if it differs when using BQ export and when not.

About the App Instance ID how is that created?

/BR, Erling 

[Steve Ganem]

That's a randomly generated GUID, generated for each new instance of the app on a device.

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[Erling M]

Ok thanks. 

And in case I would want to avoid collecting the Advertising Id how would I do that? Please explain if it differs when using BQ export and when not.

[Steve Ganem]

Advertising identifiers are automatically collected when available, but they are only optionally exported to BigQuery based on your selection when you establish the link.

On Aug 16, 2016 8:37 AM, "Erling M" <erling.m...@sonymobile.com> wrote:

Ok thanks. 

And in case I would want to avoid collecting the Advertising Id how would I do that? Please explain if it differs when using BQ export and when not.

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[Erling M]

Ok, in case I would prefer not collecting the Advertising Id at all, is there any way to do that?

Secondly, I haven't been able to conclude how to optionally export the Adverstising ID, can you explain some more details on how this is done? (Currently my data seems not to include it but I cannot understand how to add it if I would prefer that)

BR,  Erling

[Steve Ganem]

Analytics is all or nothing.  You can't selectively discard the Advertising Id.

When you choose to link to BigQuery, you'll see an option to export advertising identifiers to BigQuery (which defaults to OFF). See the attachment.

[Erling M]

Aha thanks Steve. 

This dialog was for sure shown during my linking I just didn't remember the advertising id checkbox. That explains why my prototyping data does not include it. Great. Now it's clear.

What is the reason behind the design to have adverstiding id always sent when using Firebase Analytics, is it critical for the functionality?

BR, Erling

[Steve Ganem]

The advertising id is critical to a number of features including attribution and demographics.

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[Erling M]

I see. Thanks for clarifying this. 

/BR, Erling

[Erling M]

Realized I had a follow-up question on this. Looking into the BigQuery export of Firebase Analytics I do not see the advertisement id in the BQ schema. Am I missing something or is it deliberately not part of the table?

Best,

  Erling

[Steve Ganem]

This is the field in the schema :

user_dim.device_info.resettable_device_id

Please note that this is optionally exported.  At linkage time, you were presented with the option to export Advertising Identifiers.  This option defaults to NO and so you would have to select it.  If you feel that you have made an error in this regard, you can unlink and re-link your project to BigQuery at which point you can choose affirmatively to export advertising identifiers.

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[Erling M]

OK, now I understand. Thanks Steve.

/Erling